From Ambergris Caye to Placencia the EASY WAY For Day One of Placencia’s Lobsterfest

If you follow SanPedroScoop.com on Facebook, you are probably sick of my excitement about this weekend but to me, it’s exciting.  Belize’s two oldest Lobster Festivals, Placencia and Caye Caulker – opposite sides of the country, in one weekend.

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And, if you’ve follow my blog, you’ve seen how I usually make this north to south Belize journey.  Just like I did it about a month ago.  Water taxi from San Pedro to Belize City and then a 5 hour bus ride south…and so on and so forth.

I would never have been able to make both Festivals.  SO…this time, I flew.  I FLEW!

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And not only is it super quick and easy but my flight on Tropic Air was just absolutely gorgeous.   I saw a manatee as we were about to land in Belize City.  There is no better and more convenient way to see the country.

Here’s some more of what I saw from the air on a hot hazy but beautiful day.

Belize City, our first stop from the caye…

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And then Dangriga 16 minutes later.

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Hopkins and the beach just south…

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And a few minute later Placencia airstrip and the sleepy terminal.

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The peninsula is so narrow that road traffic must stop for landing planes.

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Oh…and crossing sea turtles.

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My driver from the beautiful Laru Beya Resort picked me up for the 5 minute ride to my place.  And look at the fantastic view from my suite’s balcony.

IMG_7211 But more about that later.  I readied myself for a bike ride to the village to see how day one of Lobsterfest (the set-up day) was going…

Most hotels are full…

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Parties and live music is planned…

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Lobster specials were advertised EVERYWHERE…

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Placencia is just so darn cute.

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The tents and booths were set-up on the public beach area, just next to the Tipsy Tuna, but almost all were empty.

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I went down to the very south end of the sidewalk for some lunch at one of my favorites, The Shak.

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It is HOT down here.  And an emergency soda water was needed before I could even think about ordering…and then I went right for the HOT Indian curry.  Yum.

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Sweat it out.  Man up.  And so on.  Serious spice.

Plus, I had an excellent view of the Municipal dock and the dive boats coming in…

3pm sharp or the cash prizes for MOST, SMALLEST and LARGEST Lionfish would not apply.

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And then they all came in almost at once.  3 or 4 HUGE coolers packed with these little demons.

Harmful to our reef and ecosystem but really quite beautiful.

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Hundreds and hundreds of them all caught in one day.  Boats filled with dive masters and tourists who wanted to take part in the fun of spearing these guys.

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The counting began.  Being very careful NOT to get pricked by the spines.  According to the guy next to me, it’s much more painful than a jellyfish sting.

…68…69…

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They will all be eaten.  That’s for sure…

IMG_7242There was no way I was biking back to the resort without a quick snack.  One that I like to have about 3 times a day when I’m in Placencia.  Don’t say GROSS until you try it.

Tutti Frutti Gelateria.  Heaven.

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Milk Chocolate and Vanilla Nutella Crunch.

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AND…it’s time for me to go.  Today is Day TWO of Placencia Lobsterfest (check out the Facebook page – they have an impressive schedule) and according to locals I asked, the best day.  Apparently everyone is a bit hungover on Sunday so it has a slow start.

Keep hydrated!

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I will be reporting back for sure…and today, eating some lobster!

For more information on Tropic Air, check out their website AND the posts below of other gorgeous flights I’ve taken.

I’m on the 4:25pm plane back to San Pedro…so that tomorrow, I can hit Caye Caulker Lobsterfest.  THIS is good times.

For pictures throughout the day, make sure to follow me on Facebook.  THAT’S the scoop.

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